twenty years after(二十年后)-第42节

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himself；　for；　as　we　have　said；　La　Ramee　felt　at　the　bottom
of　his　heart　a　certain　weakness　for　Monsieur　de　Beaufort。
And　so　the　good　La　Ramee　made　a　festivity　of　the　little
supper　with　his　prisoner。　He　had　but　one　fault　　he　was　a
gourmand；　he　had　found　the　pates　good；　the　wine　excellent。
Now　the　successor　of　Pere　Marteau　had　promised　him　a　pate　of
pheasant　instead　of　a　pate　of　fowl；　and　Chambertin　wine
instead　of　Macon。　All　this；　set　off　by　the　presence　of　that
excellent　prince；　who　was　so　good…natured；　who　invented　so
droll　tricks　against　Monsieur　de　Chavigny　and　so　fine　jokes
against　Mazarin；　made　for　La　Ramee　the　approaching　Pentecost
one　of　the　four　great　feasts　of　the　year。　He　therefore
looked　forward　to　six　o'clock　with　as　much　impatience　as　the
duke　himself。
Since　daybreak　La　Ramee　had　been　occupied　with　the
preparations；　and　trusting　no　one　but　himself；　he　had
visited　personally　the　successor　of　Pere　Marteau。　The　latter
had　surpassed　himself；　he　showed　La　Ramee　a　monstrous　pate；
ornamented　with　Monsieur　de　Beaufort's　coat…of…arms。　It　was
empty　as　yet；　but　a　pheasant　and　two　partridges　were　lying
near　it。　La　Ramee's　mouth　watered　and　he　returned　to　the
duke's　chamber　rubbing　his　hands。　To　crown　his　happiness；
Monsieur　de　Chavigny　had　started　on　a　journey　that　morning
and　in　his　absence　La　Ramee　was　deputy…governor　of　the
chateau。
As　for　Grimaud；　he　seemed　more　sullen　than　ever。
In　the　course　of　the　forenoon　Monsieur　de　Beaufort　had　a
game　of　tennis　with　La　Ramee；　a　sign　from　Grimaud　put　him　on
the　alert。　Grimaud；　going　in　advance；　followed　the　course
which　they　were　to　take　in　the　evening。　The　game　was　played
in　an　inclosure　called　the　little　court　of　the　chateau；　a
place　quite　deserted　except　when　Monsieur　de　Beaufort　was
playing；　and　even　then　the　precaution　seemed　superfluous；
the　wall　was　so　high。
There　were　three　gates　to　open　before　reaching　the
inclosure；　each　by　a　different　key。　When　they　arrived
Grimaud　went　carelessly　and　sat　down　by　a　loophole　in　the
wall；　letting　his　legs　dangle　outside。　It　was　evident　that
there　the　rope　ladder　was　to　be　attached。
This　manoeuvre；　transparent　to　the　Duc　de　Beaufort；　was
quite　unintelligible　to　La　Ramee。
The　game　at　tennis；　which；　upon　a　sign　from　Grimaud；
Monsieur　de　Beaufort　had　consented　to　play；　began　in　the
afternoon。　The　duke　was　in　full　strength　and　beat　La　Ramee
completely。
Four　of　the　guards；　who　were　constantly　near　the　prisoner；
assisted　in　picking　up　the　tennis　balls。　When　the　game　was
over；　the　duke；　laughing　at　La　Ramee　for　his　bad　play；
offered　these　men　two　louis　d'or　to　go　and　drink　his　health；
with　their　four　other　comrades。
The　guards　asked　permission　of　La　Ramee；　who　gave　it　to
them；　but　not　till　the　evening；　however；　until　then　he　had
business　and　the　prisoner　was　not　to　be　left　alone。
Six　o'clock　came　and；　although　they　were　not　to　sit　down　to
table　until　seven　o'clock；　dinner　was　ready　and　served　up。
Upon　a　sideboard　appeared　the　colossal　pie　with　the　duke's
arms　on　it；　and　seemingly　cooked　to　a　turn；　as　far　as　one
could　judge　by　the　golden　color　which　illuminated　the　crust。
The　rest　of　the　dinner　was　to　come。
Every　one　was　impatient；　La　Ramee　to　sit　down　to　table；　the
guards　to　go　and　drink；　the　duke　to　escape。
Grimaud　alone　was　calm　as　ever。　One　might　have　fancied　that
Athos　had　educated　him　with　the　express　forethought　of　such
a　great　event。
There　were　moments　when；　looking　at　Grimaud；　the　duke　asked
himself　if　he　was　not　dreaming　and　if　that　marble　figure　was
really　at　his　service　and　would　grow　animated　when　the
moment　came　for　action。
La　Ramee　sent　away　the　guards；　desiring　them　to　drink　to　the
duke's　health；　and　as　soon　as　they　were　gone　shut　all　the
doors；　put　the　keys　in　his　pocket　and　showed　the　table　to
the　prince　with　an　air　that　signified：
〃Whenever　my　lord　pleases。〃
The　prince　looked　at　Grimaud；　Grimaud　looked　at　the　clock；
it　was　hardly　a　quarter…past　six。　The　escape　was　fixed　to
take　place　at　seven　o'clock；　there　was　therefore
three…quarters　of　an　hour　to　wait。
The　duke；　in　order　to　pass　away　another　quarter　of　an　hour；
pretended　to　be　reading　something　that　interested　him　and
muttered　that　he　wished　they　would　allow　him　to　finish　his
chapter。　La　Ramee　went　up　to　him　and　looked　over　his
shoulder　to　see　what　sort　of　a　book　it　was　that　had　so
singular　an　influence　over　the　prisoner　as　to　make　him　put
off　taking　his　dinner。
It　was　〃Caesar's　Commentaries；〃　which　La　Ramee　had　lent　him；
contrary　to　the　orders　of　the　governor；　and　La　Ramee
resolved　never　again　to　disobey　these　injunctions。
Meantime　he　uncorked　the　bottles　and　went　to　smell　if　the
pie　was　good。
At　half…past　six　the　duke　arose　and　said　very　gravely：
〃Certainly；　Caesar　was　the　greatest　man　of　ancient　times。〃
〃You　think　so；　my　lord？〃　answered　La　Ramee。
〃Yes。〃
〃Well；　as　for　me；　I　prefer　Hannibal。〃
〃And　why；　pray；　Master　La　Ramee？〃　asked　the　duke。
〃Because　he　left　no　Commentaries；〃　replied　La　Ramee；　with
his　coarse　laugh。
The　duke　vouchsafed　no　reply；　but　sitting　down　at　the　table
made　a　sign　that　La　Ramee　should　seat　himself　opposite。
There　is　nothing　so　expressive　as　the　face　of　an　epicure　who
finds　himself　before　a　well　spread　table；　so　La　Ramee；　when
receiving　his　plate　of　soup　from　Grimaud；　presented　a　type
of　perfect　bliss。
The　duke　smiled。
〃Zounds！〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　suppose　there　is　a　more
contented　man　at　this　moment　in　all　the　kingdom　than
yourself！〃
〃You　are　right；　my　lord　duke；〃　answered　the　officer；　〃I
don't　know　any　pleasanter　sight　on　earth　than　a　well　covered
table；　and　when；　added　to　that；　he　who　does　the　honors　is
the　grandson　of　Henry　IV。；　you　will；　my　lord　duke；　easily
comprehend　that　the　honor　fairly　doubles　the　pleasure　one
enjoys。〃
The　duke；　in　his　turn；　bowed；　and　an　imperceptible　smile
appeared　on　the　face　of　Grimaud；　who　kept　behind　La　Ramee。
〃My　dear　La　Ramee；〃　said　the　duke；　〃you　are　the　only　man　to
turn　such　faultless　compliments。〃
〃No；　my　lord　duke；〃　replied　La　Ramee；　in　the　fullness　of　his
heart；　〃I　say　what　I　think；　there　is　no　compliment　in　what　I
say　to　you　　〃
〃Then　you　are　attached　to　me？〃　asked　the　duke。
〃To　own　the　truth；　I　should　be　inconsolable　if　you　were　to
leave　Vincennes。〃
〃A　droll　way　of　showing　your　affliction。〃　The　duke　meant　to
say　〃affection。〃
〃But；　my　lord；〃　returned　La　Ramee；　〃what　would　you　do　if　you
got　out？　Every　folly　you　committed　would　embroil　you　with
the　court　and　they　would　put　you　into　the　Bastile；　instead
of　Vincennes。　Now；　Monsieur　de　Chavigny　is　not　amiable；　I
allow；　but　Monsieur　du　Tremblay　is　considerably　worse。〃
〃Indeed！〃　exclaimed　the　duke；　who　from　time　to　time　looked
at　the　clock；　the　fingers　of　which　seemed　to　move　with
sickening　slowness。
〃But　what　can　you　expect　from　the　brother　of　a　capuchin
monk；　brought　up　in　the　school　of　Cardinal　Richelieu？　Ah；　my
lord；　it　is　a　great　happiness　that　the　queen；　who　always
wished　you　well；　had　a　fancy　to　send　you　here；　where　there's
a　promenade　and　a　tennis　court；　good　air；　and　a　good　table。〃
〃In　short；〃　answered　the　duke；　〃if　I　comprehend　you　aright；
La　Ramee；　I　am　ungrateful　for　having　ever　thought　of　leaving
this　place？〃
〃Oh！　my　lord　duke；　'tis　the　height　of　ingratitude；　but　your
highness　has　never　seriously　thought　of　it？〃
〃Yes；〃　returned　the　duke；　〃I　must　confess　I　sometimes　think
of　it。〃
〃Still　by　one　of　your　forty　methods；　your　highness？〃
〃Yes；　yes；　indeed。〃
〃My　lord；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃now　we　are　quite　at　our　ease　and
enjoying　ourselves；　pray　tell　me　one　of　those　forty　ways
invented　by　your　highness。〃
〃Willingly；〃　answered　the　duke；　〃give　me　the　pie！〃
〃I　am　listening；〃　said　La　Ramee；　leaning　back　in　his
armchair　and　raising　his　glass　of　Madeira　to　his　lips；　and
winking　his　eye　that　he　might　see　the　sun　through　the　rich
liquid　that　he　was　about　to　taste。
The　duke　glanced　at　the　clock。　In　ten　minutes　it　would
strike　seven。
Grimaud　placed　the　pie　before　the　duke；　who　took　a　knife
with　a　silver　blade　to　raise　the　upper　crust；　but　La　Ramee；
who　was　afraid　of　any　harm　happening　to　this　fine　work　of
art；　passed　his　knife；　which　had　an　iron　blade；　to　the　duke。
〃Thank　you；　La　Ramee；〃　said　the　prisoner。
〃Well；　my　lord！　this　famous　invention　of　yours？〃
〃Must　I　tell　you；〃　replied　the　duke；　〃on　what　I　most　reckon
and　what　I　determine　to　try　first？〃
〃Yes；　that's　the　thing；　my　lord！〃　cried　his　custodian；
gaily。
〃Well；　I　should　hope；　in　the　first　instance；　to　have　for
keeper　an　honest　fellow　like　you。〃
〃And　you　have　me；　my　lord。　Well？〃
〃Having；　then；　a　keeper　like　La　Ramee；　I　should　try　also　to
have　introduced　to　him　by　some　friend　or　other　a　man　who
would　be　devoted　to　me；　who　would　assist　me　in　my　flight。〃
〃Come；　come；〃　said　La　Ramee；　〃that's　not　a　bad　idea。〃
〃Capital；　isn't　it？　for　instance；　the　former　servingman　of
some　brave　gentleman；　an　enemy　himself　to　Mazarin；　as　every
gentleman　ought　to　be。〃
〃Hush！　don't　let　us　talk　politics；　my　lord。〃
〃Then　my　keeper　would　begin　to　trust　this　man　and　to　depend
upon　him；　and　I　should　have　news　from　those　without　the
prison　walls。〃
〃Ah；　yes！　but　how　can　the　news　be　brought　to　you？〃
〃Nothing　easier；　in　a　game　of　tennis；　for　example。〃
〃In　a　game　of　tennis？〃　asked　La　Ramee；　giving